CES 2011: Fujifilm X100 steps out, goes to market in March

The advanced, fixed-lens compact beauty we saw at Photokina is back at CES, and this time it’s out from behind glass. Fujifilm is getting ready to launch the X100 in early 2011.

Fujifilm X100The X100, as revealed when it was first announced, will sport a 12.3 megapixel APS-C sized sensor housed in a retro-style, fixed lens camera body. Behind the fixed focal length 23mm f/2 Fujinon lens is a leaf shutter, an EXR processor and a built-in ND filter.

The look and styling of the camera sample on the show floor of the LVCC is final, according to Fuji representatives. An array of controls borders the LCD to the left, and a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder occupies the top of the camera.

It’s expectedly solid and weighty. Dials on the top include control for shutter speed and EV compensation. There’s a dedicated RAW button on the back panel, and a control wheel paired with a sub-dial above it.

Fujifilm pitches this camera squarely at the enthusiast and advanced crowd. Rather than make an attractive camera loaded with automatic modes and features for mass appeal, Fuji hopes to equip the X100 with a sharp feature set for advanced users.

The camera has a hot shoe on the top deck and Fuji had the X100 on display with some nice leather cases and external flash units.

Fujifilm hopes to make a full announcement of the camera this February with a release to the market in March. The price tag hasn’t changed since Photokina – expect to shell out around $1000 for the X100.